Category: General Information

Sherwood Forest Estates Fire Department received funding and donations of water tanks to help with fire suppression efforts.

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The Sherwood Forest Estates Fire Department (SFEFD) recently received grant funding and the donation of several water tanks courtesy of the Sherwood Fire Fighters Foundation.

Sherwood Forest Fire Chief John Moede stated the foundation’s monetary grant and material donation provided much needed improvements to the facility and a substantial increase to the district’s ready supply of water.

The Sherwood Fire Fighters Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides assistance to firefighters and fire districts in Northern Arizona.

“Our foundation is dedicated to assisting firefighters, rescue, and EMS personnel perform their jobs safely and effectively,” said Bob Simoneau, foundation president. “As in many professions, there are often much-needed resources, equipment, and tools that for which fire, rescue and EMS budgets do not provide.”

Simoneau said this includes funding equipment that is critical to the emergency scene, life and safety and that can be shared on a regional basis.

“All of the funds and property donated to the Fire Department originated from within this fire district,” Simoneau said.

The recent grant included a 5,000 and a 30,000 water storage tanks and $32,000 for new fire station doors, electrical upgrades and building repairs.

Moede stated this was a critical and long overdue improvement as the building was designed in the early 1980s when the fire agency’s vehicles were much smaller than today’s and the facility’s electrical demands were minimal.

The current much larger fire fighting vehicles had just inches to spare, according to Moede.

The replacement of the main building’s original ten foot wide doors was accomplished by modifying the building’s structure and installing new 12 foot wide doors.

The electrical work included the installation of quick disconnect automatic fire truck battery charging systems to keep all vehicles ready to start at a moment’s notice.

The water tanks effectively doubled the district’s water storage capacity. The 30,000 water tank was transported to the fire station on a special wide load heavy lift trailer and required a large crane to lift into its final position. The tanks’ transportation and installation services were included as part of the donation. More information is available from Sherwood Forest Estates Fire Department at https://sherwoodfirefightersfoundation.org.

Picture 1: Engine 1 receives its annual pump test 2020.
Picture 2: This week is National Fire Safety Week.  The SFEFD will be holding a fire extinguisher class soon watch for date and time.
Picture 3: Just a reminder our area is till under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Please no open fires.  
Picture 4: October 3, 2020 Training on pump and roll with Engine 1.

From the Office of Matt Ryan:

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for your patience and perseverance during this time. We have recently gone through impact to our communities as far as COVID-19. Now that the State’s numbers are climbing and we have heavy visitation, it is important that we realize that health measures need to be taken. We have a pandemic with no vaccine and not enough testing. We have had a surge in our region and transmission in our County and because of preventive measures we are leveling and turning the curve. We have been able to flatten the curve, but we are now seeing it rise again (see graph below and attached data dashboard). We have had active emergency rooms and stood up testing sites to help. We had a surge in homeless populations and through separation and testing have turned that curve protecting individuals and our community. Arizona is surging with one of the most rapid increases in COVID-19 cases in the Country (see graph below). The United States as a whole continues to have an upward trajectory with many more daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases than in the European Union (see graph below).

Although we are turning our curve in our County, we are getting visitation from other populations and need to protect our communities. The County is the Public Health Authority established to protect our general populations. Just as we have standards to help protect with food inspections, we have an airborne threat and need to institute preventative measures. When change occurs, such as when safety measures are required, there is a tendency to push back and not do until the context is understood. One way to look at this as a relates to a safety measure may be similar to the use of seatbelts. When they were instituted people pushed back originally. Now people use them regularly.  Similarly, you do not know when you need them but you sure do when they are needed.  

Therefore, a proclamation requiring wearing of masks, following CDC guidance, will take effect at noon today (see attached proclamation and press release for greater details). I support this order.

In Coconino County, as outlined in our proclamation (see attached proclamation for greater detail), all individuals older than 2 years old must wear a face covering within the unincorporated areas of the County under the following circumstances:

• Parents or guardians of children age 3 to 5 years old shall use their best efforts to keep face coverings on their children.
• When in a public indoor space if another person is present.
• When in public outdoor spaces if another non-household person is less than 6 feet away.
• When in the public areas of any business or government building.
• When waiting in line indoors and outdoors.

Face coverings will not be required for children under the age of 2 years old, or anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. Face coverings will not be required when at home, while eating or drinking, while swimming, while working alone in a workplace when six feet of physical distance is present, when alone in  a vehicle or in a vehicle with household members, or when exercising alone or with household members. While we encourage people to stay safe and at home this proclamation does not prohibit people from going out and instead creates a safer environment when doing so.

Coconino County continues to stand up testing at Fort Tuthill Monday through Friday 10am to 3pm. The site will be closed on Friday July 3. Masks are required at the testing site (see the attached flyer). Please take care of yourself and your families. Please help us help others by wearing a mask and looking out for your neighbors. Stay safe and well. Thank you for your help.

Matt Ryan

Updates from the Office of Matt Ryan, District Three County Supervisor, Coconino County can be found at  https://www.coconino.az.gov/2376/Dashboard-Data. This dashboard is updated daily.